Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

भर्गस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा सोपहासं च मां प्रति । आत्मनश्चलितत्वं वै ह्यमर्यादमृषीन्प्रति

Transliteration

bhargasya vacanaṃ śrutvā sopahāsaṃ ca māṃ prati | ātmanaścalitatvaṃ vai hyamaryādamṛṣīnprati

Translation

Als ich Bhargas Worte hörte—spöttisch gegen mich gerichtet—erkannte ich in mir ein Schwanken der Fassung und sah einen Verstoß gegen die gebührende Sitte im Umgang mit den ṛṣis.

Word by Word

• भर्गस्य: of Bharga
• भर्गस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• वचनम्: speech; words
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• सोपहासम्: with mockery; derisive
• सोपहासम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of वचनम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-उपहास (प्रातिपदिक); उपहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘उपहासेन सह’ इति सह-तत्पुरुष (सहितार्थक)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• माम्: me
• माम्: अधिकरण/प्रति-सम्बन्ध (Goal/Reference with प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रति: towards; against; to
• प्रति: सम्बन्ध (Directional/Reference marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश/निपात (preposition-like indeclinable)

• आत्मनः: of oneself; of his own self
• आत्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• चलितत्वम्: unsteadiness; wavering
• चलितत्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चलितत्व (प्रातिपदिक); चलित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धित (state/ness)

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपातार्थ (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: निपातार्थ (Emphasis/Reason marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये निपात (particle: for/indeed)

• अमर्यादम्: improper; beyond propriety
• अमर्यादम्: विशेषण (Qualifier of चलितत्वम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमर्याद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नञ्-समासपूर्वक विशेषण

• ऋषीन्: sages
• ऋषीन्: अधिकरण/प्रति-सम्बन्ध (Reference with प्रति)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• प्रति: towards; against
• प्रति: सम्बन्ध (Directional/Reference marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रति (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्गसदृश/निपात (preposition-like indeclinable)

Speaker

Satī (narrated within Sūta’s discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Satī
• Bharga
• Rishis

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights that ridicule and disrespect (especially toward devotees and sages) destabilize the mind and violate dharma; Shaiva teaching emphasizes restoring inner steadiness and honoring maryādā as a foundation for pure devotion to Śiva.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship in the Shiva Purana is sustained by reverence and disciplined conduct; this verse shows that contempt and social impropriety obstruct bhakti, whereas honoring sages and devotees supports right worship and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is restraint of speech and mind (mauna-like discipline), avoidance of aparādha, and steadying oneself through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to regain composure and devotional clarity.